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, (No Model.)"

W. H. BROWN.

DRAFT 11111101111011 FOR VEHICLES.

No. 374,111. Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

I IYQ/UQEWOYT Willi mm Lithographer. Waihillglan u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BROWN, OF FURNESS, MONTANA TERRITORY.

DRAFT-INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,111, dated November 29, 1887. Application filed September 8 1887. Serial No. 249,116. (No-model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BROWN, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Furness, in the county of Meagher and Territory of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Indicators for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide novel means for indicating in pounds the force exerted by a draft-animal in drawing a loaded vehicle; and to such end my invention consists in the features of construction and combinationof devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accom panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a vehicle doubletree and singletrees connected by my improved draft-indicating device. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the dralt-indicator detached. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of the draft-indicator.

Referring to these drawings, the numeral 1 designates a casing of cylindrical or other suitable form, closed at its rear end and having a detachable head, 2, at its for-ward end. From the forward end of the casing 1 are extended two pairs of arms, 3, each of which is provided with a set-screw, 4, at its outer or forward end. The detachable head 2 is formed at suitable points with notches 5, to enable the head to fit between the forwardly-projecting arms, 3, and near the upper and lower edges of the head are guide-slots 6, through which the arms 7 of the scale-beam 8 are passed. This scale-beam 8 is in the form of an elongated stirrup, the foot portion of which is arranged to slide in longitudinal guide-grooves 9, formed in the casing.

In the casing 1, between the foot of the scale-beam 8 and the detachable head 2, is placed a spring, 10, of any suitable kind, such as a rubber spring, a bow spring, or preferably a spiral spring, as shown. The upper part of the scale-beam, within and adjacent to the casing, is provided with agraduated scale, as shown, to indicate the pressure exerted on the spring 10 when the draft is applied to the forward end of said scale-beam.

The device is applied to a vehicle by passing the arms 3 and intermediate scale-beam 8 onto each end of the doubletree 11, as shown in Fig. 1, the casing 1 projecting at the rear, and in order to secure the indicator in place the set-screws 4 are screwed into close contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the doubletree. At the forward end of each scalebeam 8 is a clevis, 12, for connecting with the center of a singletree, 13, as shown.

It will be seen that by means of the short arms 3 and set-screws 4 the indicator device can be readily secured to a doubletree of any thickness.

The indicator device may be made in various sizes, as required, so that it can be easily employed with a variety of draft appliances for horse-power or otherwise, and will accurately indicate the power employed. If the indicator is used in connection with a draft equalizer, it will enable the latter to be readily adjusted with accuracy.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a draft-indicator for vehicles, the combination, with a casing, of an inclosed spring, a scale-beam having two parallel arms partly projecting from the casing, between which arms said spring lies, and a clevis attached to the scale-beam, one of the arms of the latter being graduated to indicate the draft, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a casing provided at one end with forwardly-projecting arms 3, having set-screws 4, to attach the casing to a doubletree, a spring inclosed in said casing, a scale-beam comprising two arms, 7, sliding in the casing and engaged with said spring, and projecting from the forward end of the casing, one of said scale-beam arms having graduations, and a clevis on the forward end of the scale-beam to connect it with a single- .tree, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the singletree and doubletree, of a casing rigidly secured to the doubletree, and having internal guides, 9, a graduated scale-beam comprising arms 7, sliding in said guides, a spring Within the casing acting on the said arms, anda clevis, 12, on the scale-beam, connected with the center of the singletree, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BROWN.

Witnesses:

HORACE D. THORNBERRY, SAMUEL SHULL. 

